Australia slams Trump’s “Unacceptable” remarks on NATO’s afghan mission

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has formally denounced President Donald Trump’s characterization of non-U.S. NATO forces in Afghanistan as “unacceptable.” Trump’s recent assertion—that allied troops avoided the frontlines—has sparked outrage in Australia, particularly among the families of the 47 soldiers who lost their lives during the conflict.

In a robust response on Sunday, Albanese highlighted that 40,000 Australian personnel served with distinction on the frontlines, defending shared democratic values alongside U.S. forces. While Trump partially backtracked on Saturday by praising British troops on his Truth Social platform, he failed to acknowledge the sacrifices of other key allies like Australia. Albanese pointed out this inconsistency, stating that the prior dismissal of allied contributions was fundamentally “inappropriate.”

Amidst this diplomatic friction, Australia has announced Greg Moriarty as the next Ambassador to the United States. The appointment, reportedly discussed with Trump’s team, aims to stabilize relations as current Ambassador Kevin Rudd prepares to exit on March 31. This strategic move follows years of public friction between Rudd and Trump, signaling Australia’s intent to maintain a professional alliance despite the recent rhetoric.